Spike setting device



July 4, 1933. z v 1,916,708

SPIKE SETTING DEVICE Filed Feb. 5, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY July4, 1933.

F. F. ZAVATKAY SPIKE SETTING DEVICE Filed Feb. 5, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR 6950/57/07 fifira 7/097 M ATTORNEY y 1933. F. F. ZAVATKAY1,916,708

SPIKE SETTING DEVICE Filed Feb. 5, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORATTORNEY Patented July 4, 1933 UNiTEn STATES FREDERICK F. ZAVATKAY, OFWINSTED, CONNECTICUT SPIKE SETTING DEVICE Application filed. February 5,1932. Serial No. 591,069.

This invention relates to an "improved spike setting device particularlyadapted for employment in connection with the driving of railway spikesand is designed to produce a portable and eflicient spike settingv tooladapted for more rapidly setting of spikes, assuring a greater degree ofaccuracy and resulting in reduced damage to the ties during driving andto possess other advantages which contribute to obtain an improved trackstructure. 1

Important features of my improved device consist in the arrangement of asupporting member formed to provide a bearing for a hammer rod and toform a magazine and guideway for holding a supply of spikes; aconveniently actuated, escapement, supporting means for spikes withinthe magazine operable to allow of theirbeing fed successively to adriving position; yieldable supporting means for the spike in drivingposition; resilient means operative normally ma lad but retaining thehammer rod in semi-elevated position to allowof feeding the spikesthereunder; improved manner of supporting the device upon a rail sectionhaving provision for adjustment to difi'erent rail sections and havingassociated therewith improved means for more conveniently shifting theposition of the device with relation to ties.

In addition to obtaining more accurate setting of the spikes the use ofmy improved device eliminates the'physical dangers incident to thesetting of the spikes by hand, including the danger of flying spikes andlikewise 'eliininatesthe loss of spikes particnlarly as relatedtotrestle and bridge in stallation. It also offers economy by reason ofthe more rapid setting and avoidance of damage to the ties by impropersetting.

The described and other features and advantages of my improved devicewill be more fully understood by referenceto the accom-' panyingdrawings wherein l ke reference characters are applied to thecorresponding parts in the several views. I

r In the drawings:

Figure l is a view in side elevation of my spikes which may be fed intothe magazine improved spike setting device illustrating the mannerof-itsuse. I

Figure 2 is an end elevation thereof taken from the right-hand side.

Figure 3 is a detail, longitudinal, sectiona1 View taken centrally or onthe line of separation of the frame members.

Figure 4: is a view in rear elevation taken from the opposite side fromthat of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 55 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a detailed vertical sectional view taken in a plane,transverse to the rail section. 4

Figure 7 is a detailed View of the escapement leverwith fulcrumarrangement; and

Figure 8 is a detailed view of the escapement detent construction.

In the approved embodiment of the features of my invention as hereillustrated, the supporting and'guiding frame is formed of two matedcast members 1 and 2, having a vertical and longitudinal lineof'separation and mutually formed to provide a guideway, circular incross-section, for a driving rod or hammer element and also afeed channel or magazine for the spikes. As shown, each frame member is formedwith, a web portion 4 having their inner faces in abutting relation andformed at each marginal side edge portion witha curved section 5 havinga semi-circular channel 6 adapted in conjunction with the similarchannel of the mated section to form a guide bearing for the hammer rod7 which is of circular cross section. At the opposite marginal edge ofthe frame members they are formed to provide channels 9 and 10, theupper and major portion of which is vertical and terminating at thelower end in a curved continuation toward the hammer rod guideway. Thechannel 9, as indicated, is of a form conforming substantially to theheel portion of thespike head of standard 'form and the complementalchannel 10 is formed'to receive freely therein the rail engaging noseportion of the spike, the grooves conjointly forming a magazme forguiding and supporting the Figures 2 and 8.

so formed from the upper, open, end thereof.

It is arranged that the spikes from the magazine shall be fed oradvanced one at a time to a driving position beneath the hammer rod. Forthis purpose a suitable, manually operated, escapement supportisprovided which upon manipulation will release the spikes in successionto be advanced by gravity into a driving or setting position. Theescapement mechanism, as shown, consists of escapement lever 12pivotally supported at 13 upon a bracket 14 afiixed to the supportingframe, the lever being formed at its upper end with a finger gripportion or handle 15f and being formed with a detent or stop shoulder 16at its lower portion positioned to extend into the path of movement ofthe spikes to act as a releasable support therefor. To provide'anescapement action, in conjunction with the detent 16, there ispositioned in suitable relation thereto a coacting movable detent 18, asbest shown in The detent 18 is in the form of a stop pin having asliding bearing in a suitably formed bracket 20 mounted upon the framemember and formed with an extension bracket 21 for the pivot pin 22within an inner position. Within a bearing socket formed in the bracket20, as shown, a spring 26 is fitted to underlie the enlarged headportion 24 of the detent 18 to be normally operable to move the detentinto outer andspike releasing positiomas shown in Figure 8. V i

At the upper end of the es'capement lever 12, 'as best shown in Figure7, it is formed Vwith a socket portion 27 having a bearing aperture towhich is fitted a spring pressed in 28 en a ed b a com ression storin 29having a rear bearing upon an adjusting screw stud 30 and normallyoperative to rock the escapement lever whereby its detent 16 will bemoved into the path of movement of the spikes to engage the under sideof a spike shank, as shown in Figures 2 and i5.

' The supportingor frame member is pro vided at its upper portion with abearing plate or bracket 30 forming a rest for the palm of the hand formore conveniently operating the finger grip portion 15 in the rocking ofthe escapement lever. The oscillating or rocking movement of theescapement lever is limited in one direction by a lower stop 32 and bythe engagement of the bell lever with the bracket 20 in the oppositedirection. The structure in so far as described forms an escapement orreleasable support for a supply of spikes positioned horizontally withinthe magazine, as best shown in Figures 1 and -5, with the spike shanks.projecting outwardly through the guide opening formed by flanges 36 ofthe supporting members; the spikes being normally supported upon thedetent 16 and being released to drop by gravity upon rocking of thelever at which time the detent 18 will move into the. positionunderlying the spike next to the bottom for temporarily supporting thecolumn as the bottom spike is released to drop by gravity. The return ofthe lever by the spring action will again move the detent 16 intoinitial supporting position, whereby upon each cycle of movement of theescapement lever the lowermost spike will be released. When so releasedthe lowermost spike will drop by gravity through the curved portion ofthe magazine guide opening,'the curvature of the guide opening, as willbe readily understood, progressively shifting the position of the spiketoward the vertical. As the spike leaves the curved guideway at itslower extremity, it is brought into a vertical or upright positionbeneath the hammer rod by engagement with the yieldable supporting guidemember 40 pivotally supported on the frame at 41 and 1 yieldablyretained in a vertical position by means of a coil spring 42 supportedon a bracket 43. The normal position of the guiding support 40 is asshown in Figure 3 in full lines with its rear wall portion in ver- 1tical position as determined by the engagement of its upper end portion44 with a horizontal lower end surface 45 on the support- 7 In thisdriving or setting poing member. sition the head of the spikewill have atemporary bearing upon the upper end of the supporting member 40 and inthe driving of the spike by means of the hammer the supporting member40by reason of itsyieldable support will be displaced to allow the itdownward movement of the spike, as indicated by dotted lines in Figure3. To allow of so feeding of the spikes by gravity and to the drivingposition beneath the hammer rod, the latter is normally supported toassume a semi-elevated position, as indicated in Figure 3, by means of aco1l spring 46 surroundlng the upper end of the hammer rod to hear atits lower end upon the supporting frame and at its upper end upon acollar 47 on the lower end of the hand grip member or sleeve 48 fixed onthe hammer rod. The

spring 46 accordingly operates normally to support the hammer rod in aslightly elevated position'to provide for the passage of the spikes intodriving position and in the setting operation the hammerrod is raised inits guideway and allowed to descend. by its weight to engage and drivethe spike, compressing the spring when so doing.

To insure of the proper positioning of the spike in the drivingposition, the escape: ment lever 12 at itslower end is formed with acurved extension having a shoulder 51 extended into the path of movementofthe spike and adapted to engage the side of the spike opposite to theengagement with the guide member 40 so as to co-act therewith inretaining the spike in upright position. The shoulder 51 as willbeunderstood will be movable upon rocking of the escapement lever out ofspike engaging position when the lower end of the lever is rockedoutwardly to allow feeding of the spike.

Further improvements which contribute to the more successful operationof the present device include an improved adjustable sup- I portingmeans for the frame member adapted to have bearing support upon the railso as to be adjustable in relation thereto to adapt the device forproperly setting the spikes in relation to different rail sections. Theimproved supporting or rail bearing means as here shown comprises. anangular bracket member 54 having a lower horizontal flange 55 forbearing rest upon the rail head and a vertical portion having a'verticalkey enlargement 56 fitted within a guideway or groove 57 formed in theframe member 2 so as to be adjust-able vertically with relation theretoto determine the height with relation to a particular rail section. Thebracket member 54 is formed with a vertical slot 58 through which ispassed a screw stud 59 secured to the frame member 2 and upon which isthreaded a clamping nut 60 having a lever extension 61 for convenientlyclamping the bearing support 54 to the frame member. For determining thecorrect horizontal relation of the spike to the rail base flange, a

roller support and guide plate 62 is adjust ably secured on the flangemember 55 of the bearing bracket 54 and is formed as shown with bearingportions 63 extended longitudinally of the rail at the opposite sides ofthe frame and within which are ournaled suitable rollers 64 having guideflanges 65. The plate 62 is secured upon the bracket 54 by means of ascrew stud 66 and lamping nut 67, the stud being received in anelongated slot in the plate 62 whichis likewise provided with a secondelongated slot to receive a retaining stud 68 carried on the flange 55.This arrangement accordingly allows of horizontally adjusting of theguide plate 62 with relation to the frame member of the device todetermine the proper horizontal relation of the spike to different railsections. In further accordance with the invention the guide plate 62 isdesirably formed whereby with they 'members are provided'with hand grips70 and 71 and, as best shown in Figure 6, a

finger set screw 72 is threaded to one of the frame members to engagewith the hammer rod for locking the rod from movement when desired, asfor instance during transportation.

Having described my invention, I claim:

'1. A spike setting device of the character described comprising a framemember formed with a hammer rod bearing and with a maga zine guidewayadapted to receive spikes therein, said guideway being of curved form atits lower end portion for guiding the spikes to a driving positionbeneath the hammer bearing, yieldablemeans adapted tosupport the spikesinposition for driving, a hammer rod fitted to the bearing, resilientmeans normally operative to support the hammer rod to llow feeding ofthe spikes thereunder, a manually operable escapement means positionedto support the spikes and to suecessively release the spikes to descendinto driving position.

' 2. A spike setting device of the character described comprisingasupporting frame having bearing for a hammer rod, a hammer rod fittedto reciprocatein said bearing, said frame being provided with a magazineguideway for the spikes adapted'to guide the spikes to a positionbeneath the hammer rod, escapement means to control the feed of thespikes and resilient means normally to support the llOO hammer rod inposition to allow the feeding of the spikes thereunder: A spike settingdevice of the character described comprising a frame provided with ahammer rod bearingand. means for guiding I the spikes to a drivingposition thereunder and supporting means for the frame consistm of abearing member adjustably secured to the frame and adapted for hearingsupport upon a rail.

4. A spike setting device of the character described comprising a frameprov1dedw1th a hammer rod bearing, a hammer rod Within the bearing,means for guiding the spikes to i a driving position thereunder,supporting means for the framejconsisting of a bearing member adjustablysecured to the frame and adapted for hearing support upon a rail and asupplemental bearing member secured thereto and provided with rollermeans rollers adapted to bear upon the rail upon tilting of the frame.

5. A spike setting device of the character described comprising a frameprovided with a hammer rod bearing, a hammer rod within the bearing,means for guiding the spikes to a driving position thereunder,supporting means for the frame consisting of a bearing member adjustablysecured to the frame and adapted for hearing support upon a rail and asupplemental bearing member secured thereto to be adjustable laterallyof the rail and provided at each end with journalled positioned to benormally spaced from the rail and to bear upon the rail'upon tilting ofthe frame.

6. A spike setting device of the character described comprising a frameprovided with a hammer rod bearing, yieldable means adapted to supportthe spikes in position for driving, a hammer rod fitted to the bearing,

resilient means normally operative to support the hammer rod to allow offeeding the splkes thereunder and means for guiding the spikes todriving position. 7

7. A splke setting device of the character described comprising a framemember formed with a hammer rod bearing and with a magazine guideway'adapted to receive spikes therein, said guideway being of curved form at1ts lower end portlon for guiding the spikes to a driving posltlonbeneath the hammer bearing, yieldable means adapted to support thespikes in position for driving, a hammer rod fitted to the bearing,resilient means normally operative to support the hammer rod to allowfeeding of the spikes thereunder, manually operable escapemcnt meansadapted to support the spikes in the guideway consisting of a pivotallysupported escapement lever provided with a detent movable into the pathof the spikes to support the latter, a co-acting movable detent actuatedby the lever for supporting the uppermost spikes upon the withdrawal ofsaid first detent to release the lowermost spike. i

8. In a device of the character described comprising a supporting andguiding frame formed with a hammer rod bearing and a magazine guidewayfor the spikes, said guideway being formed for guiding the spikes to adriving position beneath said bearing, a hammer rod positioned withinthe bearing and manually operable'escapement means associated with themagazine guideway consisting of a pivotally supported escapement leverprovided with a detent movable into. the path of the spikes to supportthe latter, a coacting movable detent actuated by the escapement leverfor supporting the uppermost spikes upon withdrawal'of said first detentto release the lowermost spike, substantially as described.

9. In a device of the character described comprising a supportin'gandguiding frame formed with a hammer rod bearing and a magazine guidewayfor spikes, said guideway being formed for guiding the spikes to adriving position beneath the rod bearing, a yieldable supporting andguiding means for the spikes positioned beneath the hammer rod bearing,a hammer rod positioned within the bearing and manually operableescapement means associated with the magazine guideway consisting of apivotallysupported es,- capement lever provided with a detent movableinto the guideway for supporting the spikes,.a co-acting movable detentactuated by the eseapementlever for supporting the uppermost spikes uponwithdrawal ofsaid first detent to release the lowermost spike and saidescapement lever being provided with a lower extension provided with ashoulder p0- sitioned to co-act with the yieldable guiding means forretaining the spike in driving position.

10. A spike setting device of the character 5 esoribed, comprising aframe member composed of complementally mated sections formed to providea vertical'hammer rod bearing and a marginally disposed open sidedmagazine guideway formed to receive the head portions of thespikes,'saidguideway being of curved form at its lower portion for guiding thespikes to a driving position beneath the hammer bearing, means to securethe frame sections, yieldable means for supporting the spikes inposition for driving, a hammer rod fitted to the bearing and manuallyoperable escapement means positioned to support the spikes in theguideway and op erable to successively release the spikes to descendinto driving position.

, Signed at lVinsted in the county of Litc'hfield and State ofConnecticut this 23rd day "of March A. D. 1931.

FREDERICK F. ZAVATKAY.

